Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10140478October 21, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
LIKE MANY OTHERS WE HAD HIGH HOPES AND DREAMS FOR OUR NEW 2003 BEETLE, WE THOUGHT WRONG. LIKE MANY OTHERS I AM FINDING MORE AND MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE VEHICLES AND THIS CAR JUST FOLLOWS THE TREND. AS FOR THE CLASSIC VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP, THEY HAVE BLESSED US WITH ONE OF THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCES THAT WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE IS NOW SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING A NEW WIRING HARNESSES FOR THE TURN SIGNALS AND HEADLIGHTS (SINCE THE ELECTRICAL JOBS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE FIRST 3 TIMES). WE ARE VERY CALM AND UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE AND GONE IN EVERY TIME WITH A SEMI-POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND ASKED THEM TO JUST FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER BITING MY LIP THE 4TH TIME I WENT TO THE SERVICE MANAGER (PIERRE ANDRE) AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE TO HIM. PIERRE'S IMMEDIATE REACTION WAS TO PAWN THE ISSUE TO A SERVICE ADVISOR (BRIAN ALEXANDER WHO GIVES EXCELLENT PRESENTATIONS ON PARTIALLY BURNED OUT BULBS). AFTER BECOMING A THORN TO PIERRE HE MADE AN UN-GRATEFUL ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, I HAD TO FORCE HIM TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE ISSUE. TO KEEP A LONG STORY SHORT I HAVE HEARD EVERY EXCUSE FROM THIS DEAL SHIP INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: PARTIALLY BURNED OUT BULBS, CORRODED SOCKETS, LOOSE WIRING HARNESSES, DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESSES, SUN DAMAGE, USER DAMAGE, ROAD DAMAGE. WE ALSO MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP HEAD MANAGER/PRESIDENT KEN EMERSON WHO NEVER ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT US BY ANY MEANS. IN SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO ESCALATE THE ISSUE TO A HIGHER AUTHORITY I WAS GIVEN THE VW CORPORATE 1-800-BLOWUP NUMBER, WHICH PROVIDED US SEVERAL USELESS OPTIONS. AT THIS POINT WE ARE BITING THE BULLET AND PLANNING AN ATTEMPT OF THE FLORIDA LEMON LAW; IF WE DO NOT SUCCEED WE WILL SELL IT TO SOME PERSON WHO WANTS A PROJECT VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136766October 20, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SUSPENSION:FRONT, AIR BAGS
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT FRONT AREA. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE; APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HIT THE CURB. THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID HITTING A LIGHT POLE. THIS DID MINIMIZE THE HITTING OF THE LIGHT POLE. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE ONLY IMPACT ON THE VEHICLE WAS ABOVE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO COOPERATE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY WILL RESPOND WITHIN 24 HOURS. *AK *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080072October 20, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE VIBRATED AND JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. TWO WEEKS LATER, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ONE MOTOR MOUNT BOLT WAS MISSING AND ONE NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139077October 8, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OIL LIGHT WAS COMING ON FOR NO REASON. IT WAS FULL OF OIL THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR AND IN A MONTH IT WAS DOING IT AGAIN BUT THIS TIME THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND STAYING TOO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136406October 6, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DIESEL. THE VEHICLE WILL SWAY BACK AND FOURTH AND THIS WAS HARD FAST SWAYS. THIS OCCURRED A LOT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE SWAYING WAS CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE CONTACT HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS FROM THIS BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE. THE VOLKSWAGEN MANUFACTURER REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA. THIS HAS OCCURRED FOR AT LEAST TWO MONTHS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE WHEELS ALIGNED AND THIS DID NOT HELP THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT PROGRESSIVELY WAS GETTING WORSE. IT OCCURRED AT ALL SPEEDS AND PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE THE FASTER THAT THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138198September 29, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 2000 BEETLE. BOUGHT IT USED WITH A EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM STARTED FEW MONTHS AFTER THE BUYING IT. THE CONSUMPTION OF OIL IS OUTRAGEOUS. I HAVE TO CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 800 MILES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER PERFORMED A CONSUMPTION OIL TEST, AND ACCORDING WITH THEIR TEST THE CONSUMPTION OF OIL WAS WITHIN THE STANDARDS OF A REGULAR CONSUMPTION. HAVING TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL EVERY 800 MILES IS STRESSFUL. FEW WEEK AGO I HAD TO CHANGE THE SPARK PLUG BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T START. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138046September 28, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE LOCK MECHANISM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OF MY 1998 BEETLE JUST FELL OUT WITHOUT WARNING. I DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS MISSING AND WENT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO GET IT REPLACED, ONLY TO LEARN THE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BEETLES BECAUSE THE LOCK IS HELD IN BY ONLY ONE TINY SCREW. THIS DEFECT WILL COST ME $350.00 TO REPAIR, IN A CAR THAT HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES ON IT. I ALSO RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE A FUSE THAT POWERED THE RADIATOR FAN BECAUSE THERE IS NO EARLY WARNING SYSTEM IN THE CAR TO INDICATE THAT THE FAN IS NOT WORKING. I WAS ONLY AWARE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WHEN THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, BY WHICH TIME THERE COULD HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR. THE FUSE ITSELF HAD GOTTEN SO HOT IT HAD VIRTUALLY MELTED. THIS PROBLEM COST ME NEARLY $370.00 TO FIX. THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS HAPPEN WITH BEETLES SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THERE IS NO TEMPERATURE INDICATOR ON THE DASH -- YOU HAVE NO IDEA THERE IS A PROBLEM UNTIL THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137237September 21, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED FIRST ON 2/2005 , WAS BROUGHT IN 4 TIMES TO BE FIXED AND WAS NOT FIXED UNTIL SEPT. LET ME DRIVE AROUND WITH AIR BAG LITE ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136922September 19, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I OWN A NEW VW BEETLE AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS BEEN GIVING DISPLAYS THAT COME ON AND OFF CONCERNING THE ABS SYSTEM, AIR BAG AND ENGINE. I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS CORROSION OF THE TERMINAL STRIP FROM THE COOLANT TANK THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I WAS FURTHER TOLD THAT AND GIVEN A FIELD SERVICE TECHNICAL BULLETIN THAT OUTLINED THE PROBLEM DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. THIS CAN BE A PROBLEM AS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS UNRELIABLE AND THE SAFETY SYSTEMS CANNOT BE SURE TO BE WORKING. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN TO NO AVAIL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT RECOURSE I HAVE TO HAVE A DESIGN FLAW CORRECTED? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136855September 18, 2005
AIR BAGS
IN APRIL 2005, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO THE NEAREST VW DEALER/SHOP. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEEDED TO ORDER A PART, BUT THAT ALL WAS FINE. IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS I CALLED MANY TIMES AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAD COME BACK ON. BY AUGUST 2005 THEY FINALLY RECEIVED THE PART (PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSORS UNDER/IN THE SEAT). THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT EVEN WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE PART (THREE MORE ERRORS CAME UP AND THE WIRES DID NOT CONNECT PROPERLY) AND THEY SENT THE INFORMATION TO THE MANUFACTURE FOR ASSISTANCE. ON 12 SEPTEMBER 2005, THEY HAD ME BRING THE CAR BACK IN BECAUSE THEY HAD RECEIVED REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE MANUFACTURE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS FIXED AND WOULD HAVE NO FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH IT. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, I WILL ASK. ON 17 SEPTEMBER 2005 (FIVE DAYS LATER), THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135746September 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 2000 VW BEETLE. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED A LITTLE MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF BUYING THE CAR I STARTED HAVING ENGINE/ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I TOOK IT IN........SEVERAL TIMES, SAME PROBLEM. AS I AM DRIVING THE CAR IT JUST DIES. I CAN BE GOING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY OR 1 MPH PULLING TO OR AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN. WITH NO WARNING THE CAR CUTS OFF. IT ALWAYS STARTS BACK UP, BUT IT WILL CONTINUALLY DIE. I LOSE ALL POWER TO THE CAR INCLUDING STEERING. THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN AND HAS BEEN FOR TWO YEARS AND APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES IN THE VW SHOP. THE CAR DEFINITELY HAS A PROBLEM THAT NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIX. I HAVE OR MY WARRANTY COMPANY HAS REPEATEDLY PAID FOR THE SAME AND THEN SOME REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. SOME PARTS (THE SAME PART) WERE REPLACED WITHIN FOUR MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. MOSTLY THE SHOP DETERMINES IT IS THE O2 SENSORS THROUGHOUT THE CAR (APPARENTLY YOU HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT O2 SENSORS) OR SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TURBO (WHICH HAS ALSO BEEN REPLACED ONCE OR TWICE NOW). THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. SOME MORE THAN ONCE. THE CAR STILL DIES. IT GIVES NO WARNING IT JUST SHUTS OFF. LOSING POWER AT 70 MPH ON A CROWDED INTERSTATE CAN SHAKE ONE UP. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER, THE MANUFACTURER, AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN. NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE OR WANT TO HELP ME. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP!*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134413August 28, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
LOSS OF POWER ON 2001 VW NEW BEETLE TDI. AIR INTAKE CLOGS UP DUE TO WATER LIKE SUBSTANCE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL POWER LOSS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134394August 27, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE CAR OVERHEATED AND THE TEMPERATURE LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE AUTOMOBILE TO A SERVICE STATION. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE BLADES TO THE FAN LYING ON THE ENGINE. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP WITH PARTS ORDERED FROM VOLKSWAGEN. THE MECHANIC WAS ASTONISHED AT THE PLASTIC PARTS USED BY VOLKSWAGEN. THERE WAS ONLY 60,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134396August 27, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN MAKING A LOUD, HORRENDOUS NOISE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND LOOKED AT THE MUFFLER, IT APPEARED INTACT. I DROVE SLOWLY TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PIPE OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THAT LEADS TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD DETACHED. THEY TOLD ME THE PIPE WAS STAINLESS STEEL AND THEY WERE NOT EVEN SURE HOW IT HAD EVER ATTACHED. THEY CALLED VOLKSWAGEN TO ASK WHAT COULD BE DONE. THE PEOPLE AT VOLKSWAGEN WANTED TO KNOW WHAT YEAR THE CAR WAS AND THE MILEAGE, 61,000 MILES. AFTER A HESITATION THEY TOLD THE MAN AT THE SERVICE STATION THAT IT WOULD COST $800 - $900 FOR A NEW SYSTEM. THE MAN AT THE SERVICE STATION DID AN EMERGENCY WELD, ALTHOUGH HE DIDN'T THINK THAT IT WOULD HOLD. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT HE SAW NO DAMAGE UNDER THE CAR THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS PIPE TO DETACH. HE ALSO SAID HE WAS SUSPICIOUS OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE VOLKSWAGEN REPRESENTATIVE HAD QUESTIONED HIM ABOUT THE YEAR AND MILEAGE AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN MYSELF. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON THAT MODEL HAD BEEN EXTENDED TO 80,000 MILES OR 8 YEARS. I EXPLAINED THAT I WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS THE CONVERTER BUT IT WAS THE PIPE LEADING TO IT, I WAS ASSURED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY COVERED. I TOOK MY CAR TO PITCAIRN VOLKSWAGEN IN LANGHORNE, PA. THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN DIRECTLY AND SHOWED THEM PICTURES OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY CAR. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT I HAD CAUSED THE DAMAGE. WHEN I ARGUED THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE, I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE I HAD THE EMERGENCY WELD DONE. THEY AGREED TO REINFORCE THE WELD BUT THAT WAS ALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133695August 22, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLASHING A BEEPING WHILE CAR STILL HAD MORE THAN 50% OF ORIGINAL BRAKES LEFT. NO ACT OR EVENT SEEMS TO HAVE PRECIPITATED THE PROBLEM. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT BELIEVES THAT THE ABS PUMP IS MALFUNCTIONING. REGULAR APPLICATION OF BRAKES IS UNAFFECTED. UNKNOWN WHETHER APPLICATION OF ABS SYSTEM WOULD CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132970August 15, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
FUSE PANEL LOCATED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY MELTED IN THE AREA OF THE FUSE FOR THE RADIATOR COOLING FANS. THIS FURTHER DAMAGED THE FUSES FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE ABS SYSTEM. THIS CAUSED POWER TO THE ABS SYSTEM TO BE LOST. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM AS SHORTED COOLING FANS. HOWEVER, THE WIRING TO THE MOTORS AND THE FAN CONTROL UNIT WERE NOT AFFECTED. THERE WAS ALSO THE DISTINCT SMELL OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND MELTED PLASTIC UNDER THE HOOD. THE FUSE PANEL HAS WHITE DEPOSITS UNDER ITS COVER ABOVE THE AREA THAT MELTED. I ASKED THE DEALER TO GIVE ME THE PARTS AFTER THE SERVICE. THE FAN MOTORS APPEAR TO OPERATE CORRECTLY WHEN CONNECTED TO A 12V POWER SUPPLY. THIS IS A POOR DESIGN THAT SUBJECTS THE FUSE TERMINALS TO CORROSIVE FUMES FROM THE BATTERY. THE INSERT MOLDED TERMINALS THEN BECOME CORRODED WITH HIGH ENOUGH RESISTANCE TO HEAT UP AND CAUSE THE FUSE PANEL TO MELT AND OR CATCH FIRE. I'M GLAD THAT THE PANEL WAS CONSTRUCTED OF A FLAME RETARDANT PLASTIC OR IT WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY BURNED MUCH MORE THAN IT DID. I AM ONLY TOO HAPPY TO FURNISH PICTURES IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SEE THE DAMAGE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132750August 14, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED WHILE LEAVING PARKING SPACE. DOOR HAD BEEN SHUT PROPERLY BEFORE TAKING OFF. DOOR LATCH MALFUNCTIONED ALLOWING DOOR TO SWING OPEN. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED AS SPEED WAS LESS THAN 5 MILES PER HOUR, BUT HAD THIS OCCURRED ON THE ROADWAY, I WOULD NOT WANT TO THINK OF WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED. THE DOOR LATCH WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132445August 11, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
THE TURBO CHARGER ON THE TDI VOLKSWAGONS ARE FAILING AT A VERY HIGH RATE. THE COST FOR REPAIR AVERAGES ABOUT $1600. THE COMPANY SHOULD BE FORCED TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AND REPAIR THIS PREMATURE FAILURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132220August 10, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I HAVE INVESTED IN A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE I ONLY DROVE IT 3 TIMES IT WHEN DOWN ON ME 6 MILES FROM MY HOUSE THE GUY THAT'S WORKING ON SAID MY HEADON MOTOR WAS CRACK , THEN I HAD ELE , PROBLEMS EVERYDAY I CALL IT IS SOMETHING ELSE I PAY DOWN TO EZWAY AUTO 5,000.00 THEN I PAY 383.00 A MONTH I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 WEEKS . I ASK FOR MY MONEY BACK THEY SAID NO .WHAT SUCH I DO I AM DISABLE ON A LIMIT INCOME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132167August 9, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
JUST AFTER REACHING 35,800 MILES, MY 2002 VW NB SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING ON THE FREEWAY LOST POWER AND SPEED. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV ERRATICALLY FROM A LOW OF 1000 RPMS TO 6000/7000 RPMS WHILE THE SPEED CONTINUED TO DROP BELOW 50 MPH. I TOOK THE CAR TO A VA DEALERSHIP FOR THE 35,000 MILE SERVICE AND BOUGHT THE ERRATIC ENGINE BEHAVIOR TO THE ATTENTION THE OF SERVICE MANAGER. HE ADVISED ME THAT HE HAD "NO IDEA WHAT-SO-EVER" (INDICATING SO ON THE SERVICE PAPERS FOR THE CAR) ABOUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE CARS ERRATIC BEHAVIOR BUT WOULD TEST DRIVE IT TO TROUBLESHOOT THE PROBLEM. I RECEIVED A CALL LATER THAT DAY THAT THEY HAD FOUND THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THE "FLY WHEEL" WAS "FALLING OUT" OF THE CAR AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED ASAP. FURTHERMORE, WHILE TROUBLESHOOTING THE CAR THE MECHANICS HAD ACTUALLY BROKEN THE FLY WHEEL (CLUTCH) RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED ME THAT IN THE 3 YEARS THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD SERVICED MY CAR THEY HAD NEVER CHECKED MY CLUTCH AS IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE SELF-REGULATING AND THAT HE FOUND IT UNUSUAL THAT THE CLUTCH WOULD FALL OUT WITH SO FEW MILES ON THE CAR. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT THE CLUTCH IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD COST ME APPROXIMATELY $2,000 OR MORE TO REPAIR. I CONTACTED VA OF AMERICA TO INQUIRY AS TO WHY THE CLUTCH IS NOT SERVICED REGULARLY WITH THE REST OF THE CAR AND WHY OWNERS ARE NOT ADVISED OF THE SO-CALLED SELF-REGULATING CLUTCH WHICH IS NOT MENTIONED ANYWHERE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. THE CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT EVEN IF THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE NOW AT 35,000 MILES THAT I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN ACTION TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH SHE COULD NOT SPECIFICALLY STATE WHEN THE FLY WHEEL WAS UNDER WARRANTY OR WHETHER IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AS YET THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen Beetle